J. Baker of Waynesboro wrestles Hermery Nieves of York Tech during the PIAA District 3 Section IV Wrestling Championships, Saturday, February 16, 2019 at South Western High School. Cameron Clark, York Daily Record

Andrew Baibos of Susquehannock controls Central York's B. Smith during the PIAA District 3 Section IV Wrestling Championships, Saturday, February 16, 2019 at South Western High School. Cameron Clark, York Daily Record

Luke Sainato of Gettysburg is ready for his match during the PIAA District 3 Section IV Wrestling Championships, Saturday, February 16, 2019 at South Western High School. Cameron Clark, York Daily Record

Tanner Schaller of Central York holds York Tech's Ryan Shahanian down during the PIAA District 3 Section IV Wrestling Championships, Saturday, February 16, 2019 at South Western High School. Cameron Clark, York Daily Record

Franklin Klinger of Dallastown celebrates his victory during the PIAA District 3 Section IV Wrestling Championships, Saturday, February 16, 2019 at South Western High School. Cameron Clark, York Daily Record

Dylan Forbes of New Oxford thinks about his next move during the PIAA District 3 Section IV Wrestling Championships, Saturday, February 16, 2019 at South Western High School. Cameron Clark, York Daily Record

Raymond Christas of Dallastown prepares for his match during the PIAA District 3 Section IV Wrestling Championships, Saturday, February 16, 2019 at South Western High School. Cameron Clark, York Daily Record

Central York's L. Reed tries to escape D. Hartman of Gettysburg during the PIAA District 3 Section IV Wrestling Championships, Saturday, February 16, 2019 at South Western High School. Cameron Clark, York Daily Record

Eric Glass of Spring Grove looks to take down Blake Feeney of Dallastown during the PIAA District 3 Section IV Wrestling Championships, Saturday, February 16, 2019 at South Western High School. Cameron Clark, York Daily Record

W. Smyser of Spring Grove is forced on his back by New Oxford's Lance Beckner during the PIAA District 3 Section IV Wrestling Championships, Saturday, February 16, 2019 at South Western High School. Cameron Clark, York Daily Record

York Suburban's Andrew Frey holds on to Red Lion's Cole Joines during the PIAA District 3 Section IV Wrestling Championships, Saturday, February 16, 2019 at South Western High School. Cameron Clark, York Daily Record

Raymond Christas of Dallastown grapples York Suburban's Hayden Thoman during the PIAA District 3 Section IV Wrestling Championships, Saturday, February 16, 2019 at South Western High School. Cameron Clark, York Daily Record

York Suburban's Dylan Leik scores points on B. Coruzzi of South Western during the PIAA District 3 Section IV Wrestling Championships, Saturday, February 16, 2019 at South Western High School. Cameron Clark, York Daily Record

R. Shatter of Waynesboro looks to pin C. Flemmens of Spring Grove during the PIAA District 3 Section IV Wrestling Championships, Saturday, February 16, 2019 at South Western High School. Cameron Clark, York Daily Record

B. Feeney of Dallastown has the upper hand on R. McGettigan of West York during the PIAA District 3 Section IV Wrestling Championships, Saturday, February 16, 2019 at South Western High School. Cameron Clark, York Daily Record

T. DeShields of West York lifts up B. Layman of Waynesboro during the PIAA District 3 Section IV Wrestling Championships, Saturday, February 16, 2019 at South Western High School. Cameron Clark, York Daily Record

F. Veloce of West York and Dallastown's Jamal Brandon wrestle during the PIAA District 3 Section IV Wrestling Championships, Saturday, February 16, 2019 at South Western High School. Cameron Clark, York Daily Record

Dallastown's Jamal Brandon looks to pin F. Veloce of West York during the PIAA District 3 Section IV Wrestling Championships, Saturday, February 16, 2019 at South Western High School. Cameron Clark, York Daily Record

Dallastown's Jamal Brandon celebrates after winning first place in his weight class during the PIAA District 3 Section IV Wrestling Championships, Saturday, February 16, 2019 at South Western High School. Cameron Clark, York Daily Record

M. Wolfgram of Central York warms up for his final match during the PIAA District 3 Section IV Wrestling Championships, Saturday, February 16, 2019 at South Western High School. Cameron Clark, York Daily Record

R. Christas of Dallastown and Central York's M. Wolfgram are head to head during the PIAA District 3 Section IV Wrestling Championships, Saturday, February 16, 2019 at South Western High School. Cameron Clark, York Daily Record

Michael Wolfgram of Central York goes for the grab during the PIAA District 3 Section IV Wrestling Championships, Saturday, February 16, 2019 at South Western High School. Cameron Clark, York Daily Record

R. Christas of Dallastown prepares to take down Central York's M. Wolfgram during the PIAA District 3 Section IV Wrestling Championships, Saturday, February 16, 2019 at South Western High School. Cameron Clark, York Daily Record

First up, Big Ten tournament

Penn State's place in history already has been helped by clinching the Big Ten tournament title even before the finals. Strangely enough, they lost the past two before rebounding to win the national title.

"I think if they win the Big Tens and set the scoring record at the NCAAs, this will go down as the greatest team in the history of college wrestling," said Penn State radio play-by-play announcer Jeff Byers, who's covered the team for 30 years.

"If someone's going to break the record of five championships in one tournament, this team has a hell of a shot to do that," said Roger Moore, who has worked Oklahoma State wrestling radio broadcasts for 20 years and has covered NCAA wrestling as a freelance writer even longer.

"If Penn State wins this tournament by more than 30 points, they may be the best ever."

That means this Penn State team would be better than the one two years ago that won five individual titles and a landslide team championship over Ohio State.

The 1986 and '97 Iowa teams are regularly debated as the best of all time, each with five individual winners and eight All-Americans.

Breaking down weight class contenders

Penn State's only true weak spot is at 125 pounds. They will have representatives from the other nine weight classes at nationals.

Key matches in the NCAA tournament come at 133 pounds and 149 pounds where Roman Bravo-Young and Brady Berge have shots at All-America status. They are a combined 39-7 this season.

Another vital spot is 184 pounds where No. 2 Shakur Rasheed (18-0) has been bothered by a knee injury and took a medical forfeit in the Big Ten finals. Can the fifth-year senior deliver in his biggest matches?

"It's an embarrassment of riches," said Richard Mann, senior writer for InterMat Wrestling.

Bravo-Young and 141-pounder Nick Lee (24-1) "are sort of the second-tier contenders for Penn State," Mann said. "If either would go on run (at nationals) and get top three, that would ice it away ..."

A national title is expected. What may set this Penn State team apart from all others is their bonus point scoring power. For example, Nolf (157 pounds) and Nickal (197) are not just undefeated, both are battling for the all-time school record for pins.

Joseph, a defending national champ, lost his first match of the season in the Big Ten Championships to Iowa's Alex Marinelli. Joseph also survived a one-point match against Kennard-Dale High grad and Lock Haven senior Chance Marsteller at the prestigious Southern Scuffle tournament in early January.

Cassar, though, pulled out the most dramatic victory in last weekend's tournament, scoring a takedown in the final 20 seconds to beat Minnesota undefeated heavyweight Gabe Steveson.